Tami's Group - CLOSED - FULL

Hello Tami! I would like to join your mentor group. My name is Jenny, living in Madison, WI, newly married, no pets yet, training for my first Olympic here June 14. I have three sprints in the past few years and very much enjoyed them, but ready for a bigger challenge. Having a goal on the calendar always helps me stay focused. I am planning to follow the 2x 16 week program on this site starting Feb 23rd. I will most likely only get to the pool though once a week. I also won't get outside till April most likely. I'm hoping that is enough time to get in some good long bike rides. I'm guessing its cold in upstate NY, any advice for the long indoor bike rides and runs?

Health concerns: I had my left patellar tendon realigned about 5 years ago and have been wearing a brace during running and stenuous biking ever since, until recently. Trying to ween myself from this dependency. I can currently run 3 miles without it, but still wear it for soccer once a week.

I'm also very much into data, so if there is any other information needed, let me know. Thanks and I look forward to talking with you.

Hi Tami!  I'm new to the message board and new to the triathlon world and would love to join your mentor group.  A little bit about me:  I'm a marathoner who loves to run.  I have 4 marathons under my belt and am currently training for my fifth in May.  I swam competitively in my teens and really want to get back into the sport.  As far as biking is concerned, I'm just plain horrible.  I'm hoping to improve my technique by biking to work (8 miles each way) twice a week as well as by joining a local cycling club. 

My first sprint triathlon is currently scheduled for May 9, 2008 in my beautiful hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada.  I'm really looking forward to it! 

Tami- Are you open for one more?  I am also into data and longer course races....I hope to do my first IM in 2010.  (All depends on health, strength and volume).

I would like a group to "keep me honest", bounce training schedule rework ideas off of, and to help be a motivator! 

Here's my stats:

NAME:  Lynn

STORY: Located in chilly/freezing Chicago, I did my first triathlon in July 2006-Danskin Sprint.  This was after being inspired by a few training buddies I meet during an "off-season" tri training program that I joined solely because it was cheaper than a personal trainer! Never a swimmer, I ran track and cross-country until college when my life of team sports started.  Post-25yrs, running is not as easy as it use to be--and I always want to go faster.  I REALLY like my bike....and swimming...well it's swimming. One of my greatest joy's last season was when the swim got cancelled at Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3!!!!!  My first HIM was Oct '07 in Austin (Longhorn) the same day as the infamous Chicago Marathon cancellation.  Well--it was hotter in Austin…and I was on that course for 7 frickin hours!!!!

 RACES: 

  2008: Effingham sprint, High Cliff HIM, Steelhead HIM (no others-illness)

  2009: New Orleans HM, Galena Duo, TriShark sprint, High Cliff HIM, Big Foot OLY, Pleasant Prairie OLY(Maybe), Steelhead HIM, Chicago OLY(Maybe Triple)... and a handful of 62/100miles bike rides

       Decision June 1 on IM or Chicago Marathon (round 2)

FAMILY STATUS: Single

CURRENT TRAINING: BT off-season run focus; switching into silver HIM on Feb 1?

WEIGHTLOSS: Weight is a constant battle...as I get older, the slower it comes off...and faster on.. Goal is to lose 5-7.5 pounds in next 2 months.

Hi Tami!  If you can take on another, I'd like to join your group!  My name is Nicole, I'm going to be 30 in about 2 weeks....so this year will kind of be a testament to that milestone for me.  I've be competing in tri's for about 3 years, have sprints, olympics and one half under my belt and am aiming for my first iron this year in september--the chesapeak man.  I've not signed up yet because i'm concerned about the running--i've had issues with ITB in the past.  I work at a pharma company as a scientist and have a few other hobbies than triathlon--rock climbing, snowboarding are a few.

Current training:  just getting over being sick and getting back into the swing of things.  Plan on being able to run 6 miles by end of Jan, and ride a solid 90minutes around 18mph as well.

I'd love to join the group to get to know a few people and help motivate each other--I know I'll be needing it this year!!

If there is room, I would love to join.

NAME: laura mayfield

LOCATION: Wichita Falls, Texas

JOB: Mother of 2 amazing daughters (2 and 3 years old) and a junior high english teacher.

Family Status: Married (my husband is also training with me, we do our endurance sports together)

TRAINING: as of right now, I am training for a marathon in April. However, I have done several and I think I can train for a Tri. and my marathon together. I rode ride about 25-50 miles per week currently, but in the summer months it is more like 100-150 per week. I also swim 2-3 times per week about 100 laps. (I was on swim team in high school and feel confident in a pool swim). My running is a little different, as I train I do my long runs (and rides on my bike) on the weekends, I only do sprint and hill work during the week with a max of about 5 miles. (I am prone to overtraining, so I try and max my weekly runs.)

GOALS: (in order of timelines) 1. march---sprint tri in dallas area. 2. Possible 1/2 marathon sometime between jan and March 3. April---OKC memorial marathon (26.2) 3.Some Olympic distance Tri.'s 4. August--Hotter than Hell Hundred Bike race (100 miles--I did it last year and would like to improve my times) 5. Sept.--1/2 ironman in Austin. On top of this I am working on losing about 15 pounds. I am in my weight range, but I am looking to slim down bit and lose body fat. I am also wanting to incoperate weights and more stretching into my current plans.

I would really like a mentor to bounce ideas off of and get help in improving my current goals.

thanks,

laura  

Tami- Thanks for the "long winded"message!  I will start swimming again....at some point  I have thought about joining a swim techniques class in March...I may just go ahead and do that.  Afterall, the swim is one reason I did not sign up for IMOO '09 after I volunteered last September.  Well, that and my body....

I also struggled with IT band issues that first arrived during a HIM last year.  Shorter distances were fine, but hit 10 miles, and there it was.  When training for the marathon, I finally decided to use the foam roller that I had bought a few months prior.  It kills--but just doing each leg 5-7times a night before bed worked wonders!  No more issues, unless I forgot the roller.

Shin splints...my life long arch nemesis!  I remember in high school freezing ice cups to rub down with after every run.  Today, I know it has to do with 3 things (for me): shoes, running consistency, and pace.   Yep--I found when I started running at a 10 min/mile pace, all my little bugs went away.  A good pair of slight stability shoes and running 4-5 times a week (so my shins didn't scream "what the h are you doing?" helped tremendously. 

Final comment before I convince myself to run on treadmill seeing we are gettng dumped with snow.....I am a 36 year old banker who has also thought over the last 3 years is there something else out there?  Can I incorporate sports?  But for now, I am really enjoying my position.

Ok-  off to run! Best wishes on all your workouts today....in the snowy world!

It's great meeting you all!

Some more about me. I'm 27 year old epidemiologist (whats that you say?). Basically I crunch numbers, usually dealing with health realted issues. I do enjoy the health part but not the sitting in a cubicle all day part. I have been thinking about becoming a spinning instructor so I can get involved more seriously with teaching fitness. Perhaps 2009 is the year.

As for my knee, I was told after surgery (2003) that my knee brace was not really necessary but after twelve dislocations I could not really believe that. Now I am realizing that maybe I can get it strong enough to not need it. I think my approach in training now is to not use it as long as I feel comfortable, but this time around I will probably use it on long runs and long bike rides. I'm also beginning some more strength training work on building up the muscles. I am wondering how many times a week you all do strength training? It seems hard to fit in with everything else.

I swam as a kid but not in high school or college. My main goal for the swim is to not drown. I guess I look at it as the hardest place to gain time. I feel like I can bust my a$$ to swim faster and I may make up a couple minutes, but training more in biking or running will gain me much more time. I guess going for the biggest bang for the buck. 

More talk to come! 

Jenny

Hello fellow cube mates!!!  Looks like most of us have that 8 hour a day in a cube job! Doing longer triathlons has been a bit of a cure for the cubicle blues for me these last 2 years. With longer tris, you spend more time working out….thus getting in a morning bike then knowing I have an evening run….seems to make the work day fly by and give me something fun to focus on!  And Mellymedic: step up to Olympic!....the cubicle blues did not go away until I started the longer distances.

I think in the past I also wasn't changing my shoes often enough. I am now doing it every 6 months or so. My last pair I got in August or Sept. I would like to wait unitl Winter is over before I buy my next pair. Let the snow and Ice finish off my current pair.

With BT, track your mileage on your shoes.  Shoes should last 300-400 miles, but I find my knees start to bug me and the shin splints come back after 200-250 miles.  That might help….oh, and come on…its hard enough to stretch 5-15 minutes after a workout forget about icing your shins! 

Strength training----I am going to try to start that again this weekJJ Maybe lunchtime?

  As for my knee, I was told after surgery (2003) that my knee brace was not really necessary but after twelve dislocations I could not really believe that.

Jenny- Has anyone suggested to strengthen your knee stabilizer muscles, try running swervy-like for a few minutes every run (sorta like half of a figure 8??)  Plus, it adds a little fun to your runs!

Ok- I am going to toot my own horn…..I just finished a 1.5hour run on the lakefront path in 17-25mph wind and snow (8inches expected).  I saw 27 runners, 7 bikers, and four plows.  Plus, I got icicles on my eyelashes for the second time ever!  And to think, I was going to skip the run this morning because of the snowfall!  That was soooo much fun!

"I also struggled with IT band issues that first arrived during a HIM last year.  Shorter distances were fine, but hit 10 miles, and there it was.  When training for the marathon, I finally decided to use the foam roller that I had bought a few months prior.  It kills--but just doing each leg 5-7times a night before bed worked wonders!  No more issues, unless I forgot the roller."

I had a bad bike accident last year had had knee surgery, I used a foam roller during rehab. I was wondering if you knew where I could get a good one to have at home?

The thought of doing more than 45 minutes on a treadmill is what got me to try outside....plus the extra motivation of people saying "are you crazy!!!".  That's cool!

(I need to bottle up days like this for when I am dreading the workouts)

Ok- Laura- the roller.  Check with whoever you did your PT through. Last year, my PT said I could by it from them.  Luckily I live right by a "Relax the Back" which carries a lot of stuff so I got it there.....I think it was $30-40, but very, very, very worth it.   

Yakraz--got some for Christmas from a running buddy so as to have no more excuses  I however did not wear them today...and I should have.  Lesson learned.

Tonight I have optional 1 hour ride (trainer).  Optional because I say so   Also, tomorrow is another 1 hour on the trainer.  (I wish I never stopped riding 'cause now I have bike butt again! No worries, it will be gone soon).